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Thanks Bryan

I read that whole thread, thanks for the recommendation

I started a Tavola FWK yesterday (my Meritage is aging in a carboy for a few months) and it came with a pack of carbon to add. I debated it but went ahead and added it according to instructions. As I understand it the carbon helps with finish color of the wine, making it lighter? I’m just...

Beaujolais…..while I start my FWK Riesling.

Sorry for starting another backyard vineyard thread but wanted to see if anyone in my general area has had some success with vitis vinifera or hybrids. I’ve got room for about 40-50 vines or so. Clay soil with some rock and I’m firmly on west side of zone 2 NC viticultural zone, pretty close to...

So I pitched yeast today on my second wine kit and first red. Doing a FWK Tavola Meritage; Cab Sav and Merlot with double skin packs and oak chips. I can already see it’s a little more involved than my only other wine kit, a Riesling. I like the detailed instructions that come with the kit. Now...

So I’ve got my first red kit on the way, and only my second kit total. My first was a Riesling that turned out well. I plan to do double skin packs and I’m thinking my 6.5 gallon primary fermenter will not have enough volume. Will I be good with a 8 gallon bucket? Just want to say thanks to Alex...

After the holidays I am planning to do a FWK, likely the Super Tuscan, unless someone here changes my mind!

In Baden Germany visiting my wife’s relatives who have been making wine for at least 5 generations. It was a way to supplement income originally but now is on a smaller scale and primarily to keep the tradition alive. I asked many questions and learned a lot. I knew the west side of Germany was...

Thanks again for the advice!

I believe it’s NC wine growing area map. If you look at a map I’m a few miles SW of the I-40 and I-77 junction. Your area would definitely be a little colder later and higher elevation than me, I’m about 900 feet. I’m going to check out Double A vineyards and give them a call. Thanks for the...

Thanks again for this good advice, i know you’re right. Can you recommend a good nursery that you have used that ships root stock that I might work with? Also, just curious the area you are making wine in N. VA?

Thanks for your response, that’s exactly the informed opinion I was hoping for. I am firmly in zone 2, close to zone 3. My dream would be to get some root stock from my wife’s family in Germany and continue that tradition here. I’m hoping they can help me decide if that’s worth trying...

So I’ve done some kit wine and love the process. My wifes family in Germany has made Riesling for at least 4 generations (Baden area, smaller scale) and we’re heading over again in September to help with the harvest and pressing. So I plan to really tap their knowledge base but recognize that...

I’m looking hard at the FWK Super Tuscan for my first red. I‘ve tried a couple Super Tuscan type blends and I’m a big fan of Sangiovese and Cabernet in general so I liked them. Did you do the the single skin pack or double? How long did you age in the bottle? Can you give me a quick description...

I’m in Statesville, north of Charlotte. I definitely want to get that deep at some point but maybe not there yet. Need some more equipment for that, which is a good excuse to buy come cool stuff!

So to get more specific I’m a big fan of a couple of Apothic blends for an easy go to wine. Especially the Crush blend. Is their anything from a kit perspective that would put me in that neighborhood?

My first try at winemaking late last year turned out very well (thanks to some help from this forum). Did a Riesling (which we back sweetened, I gave into the wife) and we and others have thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m ready to try a red and am a big fan of most all varieties but particularly like...

I understand fermentation but hadn’t thought that all the way through. Adding sugar will increase ABV but not add sweetness since the yeast consumes the sugar. Thanks for that reminder. I don’t understand how back sweetening can be done without lowering ABV. You are replacing some volume of the...

My wife and I did our first wine making with a Riesling kit. It went very well and turned out great. After clarification stage was over we gave it a try. Despite adding the sweetner supplied with the kit during the last rack I called it off dry. I could deal with it but needed to be semi-sweet...